TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — Florida A&M Athletics will take its fundraising push on the road this summer, bringing a series of community events to five cities as part of the department’s “Strike Tour” aimed at supporting FAMU student-athletes.
The tour’s goal is to raise funds for revenue sharing and scholarships. Scheduled stops from July 10-25 include South Florida, Tampa, Jacksonville, Chicago and Atlanta, with local alumni and supporters hosting each event.
Head Football Coach Quinn Fordham Gray Sr., Head Men’s Basketball Coach and Heisman Trophy winner Charlie Ward, Head Women’s Basketball Coach Bridgette Gordon and Vice President and Director of Athletics John F. Davis are scheduled to attend every stop, along with select Rattler coaches and staff throughout the tour.
The tour opens Friday, July 10, in South Florida in Broward County with a 6 p.m. event at Broward College. Hosts for that stop are Sean and Lakitsia Gaines, Kenneth and Hope Jones, and Jonathan and Adrelia Allen.
The next stop is Saturday, July 11, in Tampa, with a 4 p.m. event at Love First Christian Center, 1247 Balm Riverview Road. That event is hosted by Oteman Sampson, Jomo Cousins, Rick Kinsey, Gary Hartfield, Derrick Fullwood, Maurice Pickett and Kyle Kwik.
On Sunday, July 12, the tour heads to Jacksonville for a 4 p.m. event at the Northeast Florida Pharmacy Practice Center, 2050 Art Museum Drive, Suite 200. Hosts include Hattie and Emmitt Alexander, Ephrim and Victoria Riggins, and the J.R.E. Lee Jacksonville FAMU National Alumni Association Chapter.
After a break, the tour resumes Friday, July 24, in Chicago with a 7 p.m. start at the home of Steven and Gene Hall. The Chicago stop is hosted by Brian Booker, Chery (Harris) Booker, Steven Hall and Amber Spencer.
The final stop is Saturday, July 25, in Atlanta at 7 p.m. at JR Crickets, 4479 S. Cobb Drive in Smyrna, Georgia. The Metro Atlanta and North West Georgia Chapter NAA, Michael Collins and Johnny McCray will host the event.